Target CEO @ CNBC “In an interview with CNBC’s Becky Quick on “Squawk Box,” Cornell said he meets with his leadership team every day to adapt to new shopping patterns and discuss ways to keep shoppers and employees safe from the highly contagious virus…In order to minimize disruptions, Target will wrap up remodels already underway but won’t start new ones.” Video/Read more

 

Target’s month-to-date March comp sales are up more than 20 percent above last year

• Essentials and Food & Beverage up more than 50 percent
• Apparel & Accessories are down more than 20 percent 

Press release

 

Dillard’s is still open for business despite coronavirus at CNBC. “CNBC spoke to multiple employees, one of which said they were “begging” for the company to close. The workers all requested anonymity to protect their jobs.” Read more

 

Retailers want to stop paying rent to offset coronavirus closures at Fortune. “Mattress Firm, with about 2,400 stores, sent landlords a letter last week saying it would cut rent in exchange for longer leases and offering two options to do so. This week, it sent a more urgent note revoking its earlier offer.” Read more

 

CVS CEO Larry Merlo: Lack of protective gear for workers has slowed rollout of drive-thru testing at CNBC. “Workers at the drive-thru tests must wear gowns, masks and gloves as they swab a patient for a sample. They must change that gear after each person to avoid getting the next person sick.” Read more

 

Delivery drivers face pandemic without sick pay, insurance, sanitizer at Reuters. “Alvarado said the van he drove wasn’t cleaned before or after his 10-hour shift, nor were the bins holding packages handled by warehouse workers and delivery drivers. Yet his company offered no gloves or masks, and only sporadically provided hand sanitizer.” Read more

 

Amazon employees test positive for coronavirus at 6 US warehouses at Fox Business. “Just last week, warehouse workers sounded alarms that the company is not doing enough to protect them from the virus…Since then, more than 1,500 workers from around the world have signed a petition that calls on the company to take additional steps to ensure safety in the workplace.” Read more

 

** The Sweets & Snacks Expo, originally scheduled for May 18-21, 2020, in Chicago, has been canceled

 

Target X: Inside the Customer Experience at Super Target at Field Agent. Download report

 

A Time to Lead with Purpose and Humanity by Hubert Joly at Harvard Business Review. “I became CEO of Best Buy in 2012 when the company was supposed to go under — there is no obvious blueprint to follow. But perhaps, the same principles of purposeful, human leadership — such as putting people and customers first, treating profit as an outcome rather than the goal — that we used then can be applied now.” Read more

 

Fifteen percent of shoppers said they are more likely to shop at convenience stores for groceries due to the pandemic at Convenience Store News. Read more

 

Neiman Marcus partners with Joann Stores to sew masks, gowns and scrubs by Maria Halkias at Dallas Morning News. “The work is happening at Neiman Marcus alterations facilities in California, New Jersey and Florida. The first shipment will go out to health care providers later this week.” Tiered subs.

 

Walmart installing sneeze guards at regular registers over the next 2 to 3 weeks Press release

 

24 Hour Fitness faces public backlash for blocking membership cancellations during coronavirus pandemic at San Diego Union-Tribune. Read more

 

‘Who’s scared of coronavirus?’ Man licks Walmart deodorant in video by Dawson White at The Kansas City Star. “Police in Warren County said the man has been arrested, according to a statement posted to Facebook Monday. Charges are pending, but police have not revealed the nature of the charges.” Read more

 

Tipsheet Extra

McDonald’s slammed for separating Golden Arches to promote social distancing

Amazon calls DoD review of Microsoft JEDI win too narrow

UPS partners with Wingcopter  to develop a new type of delivery drone

What it’s like to be a delivery worker during the COVID-19 pandemic

2 more publishers withdraw from BookExpo convention

Working from home? Switch off Amazon’s Alexa (say lawyers)

Read Tipsheet Extra Stories

 

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